China Travel and Cultural Wonders
... from Our Family to Yours
Whether you will be traveling to China with the children, or just want to learn more about those mighty Chinese Dragons...
We bring China to you in these pages, we hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed putting them together!
What is China Family Adventure? This is a site about China for kids and families all over the world, that share
our same interest and enthusiasm about China and Chinese Culture. The site is possible thanks to our many friends and readers
who have kindly contributed their experiences so we can all enjoy and benefit from them.
About China Travel with Kids
China travel is not only about temples and imperial palaces, Peking Opera and Buddhas...
Your China Family Adventure is about climbing watchtowers... exploring narrow alleyways... flying kites... coming
face to face with giant Pandas... cruising rivers on bamboo rafts... and so much more!
Planning a trip to China with children takes on a different meaning. It has to be beyond
the rich culture and beautiful scenery. It's about making more than five thousand
years of history come alive...
- about exploring those ancient walls... by bicycle
- about cruising the waters traveled by emperors long ago... on a dragon boat
- about flying kites... in the world's largest square...
- about keeping the kids engaged, involved, entertained and out of trouble!
China is not regarded as your typical destination for a family vacation with small children.
People will tell you it's too crowded, too polluted, all that sightseeing, culture and history
will bore the daylights out of them...
Well yes, it will be crowded and the air quality is a real problem, but with a little planning
and an open mind, a China travel experience can be such an eye opener, an exploration journey
and fabulous adventure for the family!
Ours started when my parents, who are originally from South China, were keen on visiting their
homeland and wanted to bring the grandkids along. It was an experience we will treasure forever. We have ever since
gone back a few times and each and every time is special and unique, the changes are just mind-boggling.
And so, a China travel experience isn't just history and the past, it's also about the future,
about the impressive transformation this land of contrasts is going through... about the
progress and the serious challenges.
We rode the fastest train in the world... at 433 km/hr
it took all but 5 minutes to get to the airport in Shanghai.
And cruising through the largest hydro development project ever built at the Three Gorges Dam was like a ride out of Starship Enterprise... truly amazing.
About Chinese Culture...
We will be learning about
Chinese Culture at every turn... Chinese Ghosts, Chinese Lanterns...
Good Luck Numbers, Bad Luck Numbers... Lion Dances and mighty dragons... Our favourite Chinese Festivals and how they are celebrated...
We take you on that colorful journey as well...
Here are some of our favorite and most popular aspects of Chinese Culture to get you started:
We are here to share experiences from our family
travels in China as well as from our own cultural heritage, and help you on your way to having your own China Family Adventure!
Let's Get Started!
- China Travel Guide - Planning your China Trip and Choosing the Best Way to Travel
- China Travel Guide: Plan your trip to China, a step by step guide and checklist. Choosing the best way to travel, with a tour or on your own
- China Travel Guide - Family Friendly Destinations
- China Travel Guide: China is such a great
land, where to go? what to do with kids? Plan your family-friendly
itinerary to include a Toboggan ride down the Great Wall, biking
in the countryside...
- China Travel Info and Tips, when to go, how to get there... how can I charge my iPod?
- China Travel Info and Tips: when to go, how to get there, all from visas to electricity in China, and practicalitites you need to know for your trip to China
- China Travel with Children - Our Tips
- Our tips for China Travel with Children: History and culture too boring? put a camera in their hands... What about Chinese toilets, what's this squatting thing?...
- Beijing with Kids
- Beijing Travel with Kids. The Forbidden City... the
largest palace in the world...the sight is impressive. Yet, to the kids the rows
of buildings are starting to look all the same. What to do?
- Great Wall of China... Climb up and Toboggan Down!
- Journey to the Great Wall of China... several portions of the Wall are now accessible, where should you go with the kids? will grandma be able to climb? Badaling? Mutianyu? Simatai? Read more...
- Xian, China - Travel to the Eastern end of the Silk Road
- Xian, China - Traveling with the family to this ancient capital? Between the nearby Terracota Army, bike rides on the city wall, bargaining at the Markets, you have it covered!
- Xian's Terracotta Army
- Xian's Terracotta Army is a fascinating collection of +8,000 life-size warriors built more than 2,000 years ago by Emperor Qin to protect him in the next world. Take a look at this magnificent archaeological treasure...
- Travel to Hong Kong with Kids
- Travel to Hong Kong with Kids: ferry rides, big buddhas, colorful markets, thrilling rides, pandas, temples, fun foods, and yes, even Mickey Mouse!
- Cruising China's Yangtze River
- Our cruise through China's Yangtze River gave us a chance to see some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. It also gave us a glimpse of modern China at the world's largest power plant!
- To Chengdu with Children - More than Giant Pandas!!!
- If you are traveling to Chengdu with children, a stop at one of the Giant Panda Reserves will be a must. But that is not all there is to see and do in Chengdu. Come take a look...
- Traveling to Tibet - with Children?
- For travel to Tibet with children, there are a number of issues that need your consideration: altitude sickness, strong sun, food, tibetan dogs. Here are tips on dealing with them, and family-friendly alternatives to experiencing Tibetan culture.
- The Leshan Buddha
- A day trip to the Leshan Buddha is easily made from Chengdu. At 71 meters high, this is the largest Buddha in the world. It is carved on the side of the hill, where he sits overlooking the river.
- Remote China: Off the Beaten Path... with kids
- How about traveling to the more remote areas of China, the off the beaten path places away from the main tourist cities. Can this be done with children? Is it safe? Is it worth it?
- Famous Chinese Mountains: Huangshan - Yellow Mountain
- As famous Chinese mountains go, Huangshan or Yellow Mountain in China is at the top of the must-see list.
It is not just the oddly shaped towering peaks surrounded by a sea of clouds, but also the ancient dwarf pines growing from any crevice imaginable, the hot springs in the mountain, the amazing sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, the waterfalls and streams...
- Zhangjiajie Stone Forest - China's Avatar Mountains?
- Zhangjiajie's Stone Forest in China's Hunan Province, are these the striking hanging mountains in the movie Avatar?
- Our China Photos
- China Photos from our China trips with grandma, grandpa and the kids. Lots to do in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Cruise...
- Our China Video Gallery
- China Video Clips from our 2007 Trip. Join us as we fly kites in Tian'an Men Square, climb the Great Wall and toboggan down, bike in Xian, and more...
- Chinese Culture... for kids!
- Let's explore the many aspects of Chinese culture, from food to festivals, to dragons and snakes. 2013 is the year of the Snake! Come and learn with us!
- Chinese Zodiac for Kids
- There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. They came when Buddha summoned them to him. A race was held to determine which would be first in the cycle, guess who came in first and why?
- Learning Chinese Writing Symbols for Kids
- Chinese writing symbols go back more than 3,000 years. Characters began as pictures. Pictures were drawn to resemble the items they represented.
Students have to memorize many 'pictures' to be able to read and write, want to give it a try?
- Traditional Chinese Festivals for Kids
- Traditional Chinese Festivals are the life-blood of Chinese life and culture. They are all rich in tradition, history, great food, dazzling lights and flashy decorations!
Take a look at these wonderful celebrations!
- Are Chinese Dragons evil?
- Unlike the western counterpart, Chinese Dragons are not considered bad enemies to be defeated. In Chinese culture, dragons are a symbol of wisdom, power and nobility and are found in everyday life.
- Chinese Food for Kids
- How different is Chinese food in China from what you are used to back home? In a country as immense as China, the diversity of its food is vast, these are the major styles you will encounter in the different regions.
- China Map
- China Map with places of interest for the kids: Where can you see the Great Wall? Where do Pandas live?
- China-Family-Adventure.com News
- Our China-Family-Adventure News and Blog will help you keep up-to-date with additions
to our website. Subscribe now.
Got a tip?
Got something to share? Let us know!